Woman's rights [microform] : being the celebrated lecture

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Sutobio^i^k,f)l}y of JVIi'. Cioui\tei^, CJ.0.0.

Mr. Charles Albert Counter was born at Sotithrood, King-
ston, the residence of his father, John Counter, Esq., on the
7th of May, 1841. His father was a prominent man in the
history of Kingston, having been Mayor of the Limestone City
for eight years, Cliarles Albert early evinced a taste for
oratory, and even when a school boy was fond of discussing
public questions. He frequently addressed the students of
Queen's College from the rostrum, and was a prominent de-
bater in the Alma Mater Society. Of late years Mr. Counter
has acquired his principle notoriety as the champion of the
female sex, his eloquent efforts on behalf of woman's rights en-
titling him to the gratitude of every lady in this country. Mr.
Counter has also served his country in many ways. He has
been engaged on several important public works — the Midland
Railroad, the Credit Valley Railroad, the Toronto Grey and
Bruce, the Grenville and Lachine Canals, the Canada Pacific
and the Kingston and Pembroke Railways. Mr. Counter
possesses a splendid delivery, enhanced by a good physique and
powerful voice, and should bo heard to be appreciated. As a
political speaker Mr. Counter has few equals in Canada.

Mr. Counters Celebrated Lecture on " Woman s
Rights,'' delivered in the City Hall, Kingston,
November ijth, i8yy, before a large and intelli-
gent audience :

On motion of Alderman Mclntyre, Mr. J". H. Metcalfe,
M.P.P., was called to the chair, and in a few brief remarks in-
troduced Mr. Charles A. Counter, who has won for himself the
proud title of Canada's Own Orator.

Mr. Counter, on coming forward, was received with loud
cheers. He at once began as follows — addressing the chair:
Sir — The question which I propose to discuss to-night is one
of momentous import to every man, woman and child in this
broad Dominion of ours, which reaches from the Atlantic on the
east to the Pacific on the west. Nay, sir, this question is a
cosmopolitan, not a local one, and concerns the whole world.
The subject is "' Woman's Rights." Now, sir, I maintain that
whatever advances woman's interests furthers those of every
mortal. They are " the morniijg stars of our yonth, the day
stars of our manhood, and the evening stars of old age. Hav-
ing endowed these terrestial angels with intellectual faculties
why, sir, should they not possess their rights and privileges,
monopolized by the selfish man. There is a tide in the affairs
of man, which taken at the iHood, leads on to fortune ; there is
a tide in the affairs of woman, which taken at the flood, leads
God knows w^here. In all sacred and profane history woman
plays a prominent part. We find that in the creation this
work was incomplete, and was not consummated until woman

Lecture on WomaiVs Rights.

was created to be a help-mate to man. After man came wo-
man, and she has been after him ever since. (Clieers.) And
mark, sir, from which part of the man slie was (jreated ; not
from his head, showing she was above ; not from his feet, show-
ing she was to be his slave, bnt from his middle, showing she
was to be on an equality with him in all things. And what
did the tyrant man do just after she was created. He induced
the soft and yielding creature to eat of the apple with him,
and then cowardly like turned round when accused and said
*' the woman forced him to eat," and this, sir, has been the
course of man to woman ever since. Every mischief is said to
have a woman in it, but this, sir, I have no hesitation in brand-
ing as a base calumny and falsehood. From the earliest ages
woman has been held in bondage by the tyrant man. The
ancient Greeks and Romans made them, not their helpmates,
regarding them not as bone of their bone, and flesh of their
flesh, but as playthings and slaves, to be caressed or beaten at
their sovereign wills. Yes, sir, even at this day, in this ad-
vanced nineteenth century, it is easy to judge of a nation's
civilization by noticing: the estimation in which women are
held. Look at the different position of the sex in England
and the United States on the one hand, and in Turkey and
Utah and the Feejee Islands on the. other.

In the sacred writings woman has a place of honor, for
although it is distinctly laid down that woman is to have no
dominion over aian, and that man is head of the woman, even
as Christ is head of the church, yet this is no bar to her hav-
ing equal riglits with man in the aftairs of this life. Woman
was the first to meet our Saviour at the Tomb. Woman has
always been more devout and worshippilig and of greater faith
than man. Why, sir, how poorly would our churches at this
day be filled if the women staid at home. I venture to say,
sir, that in any church in this broad land you will find five
female worshippers for one man, and tliis has always been the
case. Reflect, sir, for a moment on the characters of Rebecca,
Hannah, Ruth, Judith, Dorcas (the originator of the Sewing
Society), and others too numerous to mention. Lot's wife,
Ananias and Sophia we will say nothing about. With regard
to the influence woman has exercised in the important events
of history. Look at Cleopatra and Mark Antony, the Queen
of Sheba. and Queen Elizabeth, Madame Pompadour and

Lecture on Woman*s Rights.

Louis XIY., Nell Gwynne and Charles IL, Mrs. Gamp, Mrs.
Harris, and others of Dicken's heroines.

In fact, sir, in whatever aspect we look at the question, we
find that man would be a poor lonely creature without woman.
We are assured by the highest authority that it is not good for
man to be alone. " Oh, woman, lovely woman, we would
have been brutes without you." In fact, sir, we would not
have been here at all, for I ask every intelligent man in this
audience "where he would have been to-night if he had never
had a mother." (Loud cheers.)

Speakingof motherhood, is it not beautiful to Witness the
afiection of a mother for her children ? No matter who deserts
them, a mother's love follows them always, even from the
cradle to perhaps the gallows tree, and a mother will always
try to screen the faults of her own offspring, and even fight for
them as a tigress would for her cubs. In the training of the
young 'tis woman who forms the plastic mind, who impresses
on the young idea h w to shoot, and trains them up to be use-
ful citizens to the state. In the home the woman's hand reigns
triumphant. Here her influence is most seen and felt, and
you may be sure, sir, that a man who has a happy home has a
woman to thank for it. When, oppressed by the cares of life
and business, a man returns from his day's toil to his home,-
how pleasant it is to be received with smiles and a kiss of wel-
come from his loving wife, sisters and mother and their cousins
and their aunts. On the other hand, however, a man mav be
received with a broomstick if he stays out too late at night, so
beware, take care and do not too far try the tempers of these
sublunary angels — naughty, naughty, man.

The most important place, however, where woman's influ-
ence is most appreciated, is by the sick-bed of suffering
humanity. Well has the poet expressed it :

"Oh, woman, in our hours of ease,
Uncertain, coy and hard to please,
And changing as the shade.
By the light quivering aspen made,
When pam and sickness assail the brow,
A ministering angel thou."

Who has not felt the devotion of woman when on the sick
bed ; her gentle hand performs those numberless offices, which

Lecture on Woman's Rights.

are repellant when performed by the rough, though kind
hands of man. Who can smooth our pillows, moisten onr
lips, and tuck us in when we are children, like natures own
nurse — a woman? Who can make our food, our beef tea and
egg nogg like a woman ? "Wlio can talk to us like a woman ?

Look, sir, at the devotion of women to the sick. Let us re-
call to mind the glorious example in the Crimean war of
Florence Nightingale and her little band of heroines. Look,
sir, at that great and glorious sisterhood, the Sisters of Charity,
who belong to that right honorable and influential body, the
Roman Catholic party.

Who so ready when a man is prostrated by illness through
intenjperance, to help him to refrain from the intoxicating cup,
to make him " swear off," as a woman.

With regard to their intellectual faculties I hold, sir, on good
logical and justifiable grounds, that there is a certain class of
intellectual women who possess as great minds as their fellow
mer-, and if so, sir, why should they not have equal rights with
men in this respect. Why should we not have female lawyers,
female medical men and clergymen, and even female Cabinet
Ministers. There are, I am happy to say, many barristers
practising in the United States who are of the female per-
suasion, and very eloquent ones most of them are, women being
naturally good talkers. Witness the case of Mrs. Alton H.
Huglett of Chicago. Aa orators and lecturers we have brilliant
examples in Mrs Cady Stanton, Mrs. Susan B. Anthony, Mrs.
Livermore and Mrs. Victoria Woodhull, who lectures on Fi"'ee
Love. We have now, also, many female medical men who
are succeeding well in practice. Mrs. Jenny K. Trout, of
Toronto, and many others.

I have no doubt the young men in my audience would not
be as healthy, however, as they now are, and would often feign
sickness, if they expected to be attended by some blooming
young female graduate of the medical profession. Many
would consider it a luxury to be an invalid with such fair at-
tendants. As clergymen, look at Mrs. Van Cott, and other
eloquent Methodist ministers. Conversions would, no doubt,
be more numerous, and the churches better attended by lat'ger
congregations were ve to have numerous female ministers.
I see no reason whatever, sir, why women should not algo

Lecture on Woman's Rights.

aspire to our legislative halls, and iminicipal offices. I regard
it as a relic of the dark ages to debar from voting any woman
who pays taxes as a man. The only danger that I see in ad-
mitting women to the franchise is that they would be likely
to vote for the hands<miest candidate. In that case, sir, even
I might be induced to act as a representative man, notwith-
standing my native modesty. There are several states in the
neighbouring Republic where women have free access to the
franchise, and this system is found to work very well. Even
in this country womoti vote for school trustees, and if so, sir,
why not extend the fra!>chise and allow them to have a voice
in all municipal and i>arliamentary elections.

There are many other departments of life besides the learned
professions for which women have shown great aptitude. For
example, women nmke good telegraph operators and first-class
book-keepers and editors of papers. Some women have a great
faculty for business, and experience has proved that it is much
easier to cheat a uian in a iitiancial transaction than it is a
woman. If you owe a debt to a man you may stave oft* pay-
ment for a lonof while yory often, but if a woman is your
creditor she willpcrsistentllJf dun you for her money until she
gets it.

As school teachers women excel. The late Rev. Dr. Eger-
ton Ryerson, late Superintendent of Education, admitted in
one of his lectures "that no one could inculcate the rudiments
of education to a child like a woman. As musicians and
linguists they cannot be excelled. In literature they also
shine.

Take for example the names of Charlotte Bronte, Miss
Braddon, Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Oliphant and numerous other
authors. In poetry we have Mrs. Hemans, Mrs. Yeomans,
Mi*8. Browning and Miss McOoll and very many othei's.

With regard to the difference of their intellectual powers,
men are more refiective, women more perceptive ; men reason,
women jump instinctively at a conclusion, which is generally
correct. Women judge more by their feelings and passions,
while men are more logical. Women, while more aftectionate,
are not so honest as men, nor so .strictly honorable in small
private affairs. A man's and a woman's faculties are some-
what dift'erent, but when a woman's perceptions and a man's
reflections are combined^ as in discusi^ng matters by ■« husband
and wife, almost perfection is reached.

-t^..,^,'fw on PFa»ffa«*s Rights,'

This, as woll as physical labour, is what is lucaut by a help-
mate.

If you go to our fairs and exhibitions you see women's
handiwork, a crown of honor to themselves, displayed every-
where. Women have great taste for the beautiful, but after
all, sir, what objeet in the world can be compared to a beq^uti-
ful woman herself, nature's greatest handiwork.

"Her prentice hand she tried on man,
And then she formed the laHses oh."

Poets have sung, during countless ages the charms of wo-
man, and will do so while time endures. Beautiful women
themselves are conscious of their beautj', and their plainer
sisters always try to enhance their appearance by the aid of
dress. This love of dress seems almost universal to the sex,
and from the time when Eve iirst adorned herself with a fig
leal down to the crinolines and paniers of the present day the
love of dress has always been shown. Go to the most bar-
barous tribe of Indian savages, and you will find the squaws
decorated with their gaily painted blankets and using their
looking-glass like their more highly civilized sisters of New
York and Kingston.

Next, Mr. Chairman, we come to the great theme of love.
What is love without a wotnan ? It is like a nut without a
kernel, a case without its jewel.

Men always have and always will love the dear creatures
while the world exists

"Not always wisely, but too well. "

What so beautiful as the love of a young man and' woman :

"There's nothing half so sweet in life.
As love's young dream."

We are commanded to love one another, and this is easil v done
if the other is a. lovely young lady. I cannot, however, sir,
enter upon an analysis of love, for the subject overpowers me,
and if I am still a bachelor I assui-e you, sir, it is not from want
of love for the ladies. My opinion is t!iat every man should
be married He is only half a man that is not, and the poorer
half at tiiat. The endurance of woman's love is a wonderful
mystery; how oftan do we see it bestowed on unworthy objects,
and yet their lov'v still clings. As the coloured poet beauti-
fully expresses it :

• , "Woman's love, like Ingy Rubber,

It stretch the more, the more you lub her. "

8

Lecture on Woman's Rights.

And not like what the cynic says —

"Woman's love is like Scotch snuff,
You get one pinch and that's enough."

As examples, sir, of illustrous women, allow mo to mention
several of our British Queen's, the last and greatest oi whom
is our present sovereign lady, Queen Victoria. God bless her,
long may she reign. In all the circumstances of wife and
mother she has shown an example to the world. Frequently,
;air, has she given advice to her ministers, which has proved to
the future prosperity of that mighty and powerful nation the
British Empire. .^

Among other noted women we may recall the names of
Lady Jane Grey, Aspasia, Mrs. BiUings, Ninon, Emily Sol-
dene, Mrs. Langtry, the Jersey Lily, and Mrs. Lowry, and
hundreds of others.

Women have played a prominent part also in the wars of
the world. Recall to mind Boadicea, Helen of Troy, Joan of
Arc and Jenny True Blue.

So far was the adoration of the female sex carried during
the French revolution, that a woman was worshipped on the
altars as the Goddess of Liberty.

Now, Mr. Chairman, I am sorry to say that while the love
of a good woman elevates a man in every respect, the love of
a bad one equally debases and destroys him, as witness the
evidence of Solomon, who ought to know, being the wisest
man. His great prototype, the late Brigham Young, who
preached the pernicious doctrine of Polygamy has passed
away, and with him I hope will soon fall that great blot on
the civilization of the United States, Mormonism.

I, Mr. Chairman, am no advocate for Mormonism, the
Oneida community, or Free Love, but for honest, legitimate
love in all its connubial beauty and strength. Sir, in solving
this momentous question I could go on for hours', bat time wilip
not permit, so 1 tliank this large and intelligent audience for
the attentive hearing they have accorded me. (Enthusiastic
cheering.)

A vote of thanks was moved to the lecturer by Mr. Johnson,
and seconded by Br, Evans, and passed unanimously amid
cheers.

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